Lancashire and Cheshire Football League round-up

With Premier division leaders Spurley Hey having their game postponed it gave the chasing pack a chance to close the gap. Mellor did the business with a hard-earned 4-3 win at lowly Hooley Bridge Celtic to move within five points of Hey with a game in hand.

With Premier division leaders Spurley Hey having their game postponed it gave the chasing pack a chance to close the gap.

Mellor did the business with a hard-earned 4-3 win at lowly Hooley Bridge Celtic to move within five points of Hey with a game in hand.

On target for Mellor were Matt Cotton (two), Johnny Cooke and Dave Whelan.

Reigning champions Whalley Range had to battle back from a 2-0 deficit at a slick Oldham HSOB with goals from Liam Bennion and Luke Hanley earning them a point in a 2-2 deadlock.

The local derby between South Manchester and Old Trafford produced its usual cliff-hanger as OT three times came back to level before Marc Critchley bagged his second strike and the winner with two minutes to go with a clinical header.

The other South marksmen were Mo Adamson and Azuku Atuta with Kyle Denton, Darrell Garwood and Seth Wyatt replying for an unlucky OT.

With the top two in division one out of action Fletcher Moss Ranger closed the gap with an emphatic 6-0 win over Stoconians.

Heaton Mersey dropped into bottom slot after a 3-1 defeat by basement club Abacus Media and Milton also climbed above Mersey as they won their local derby by 4-2 at Santos.

A delayed Rhodes Cup round two clash saw an impressive Boothstown bridge a two-division gap to win 4-1 at Parrs Wood Celtic to book a juicy tie in the next round at Premier division Mellor.

Castleton FC extended their lead at the top of division two to six points as they cruised to a 5-0 win over second-placed Hollingworth and Tintwistle Athletic kept up their promotion hopes with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Eagle FC.

Ardwick FC are also in the promotion frame with five games in hand on the leaders and they kept up their chase with a 4-2 win over a gutsy Aldermere.

The basement team shocked Ardwick by scoring first but Gideon Thomas struck twice before the break to put Ardwick in control.

Both teams had their chances in the second half with Mayo Ajari adding to the Ardwick lead before Aldermere notched a deserved second.

Aldermere showed good signs of improvement from their recent form and obviously benefitting from the club’s restructure but a focussed Ardwick had the last word with the final goal from winger Callam Gardner.

Moston Brook’s promotion hopes took a hit as they lost out 3-1 at Mellor seconds who had Ryan Yates, Mark Oldham and Adam Barlow scoring.

Whalley Range seconds increased their lead at the top of division three with an efficient 3-1 win at Urmston Town with goals from Obi Beebes, Mark Dynan and Gavin Calthorpe.

Second-placed Trafford United were held to a 2-2 draw at Whitworth Park.

United twice took the lead through Chris Hartley and Chris Macdonald but Park came back well for a point.

Only two games were played in division A and Old Ashtonians seconds moved into third spot with an emphatic 4-0 win at Fletcher Moss and Manchester Rovers had to work harder for a 4-2 success over Gatley seconds.

Division B leaders Eagle seconds retained their 100 per cent record in a goal fest at Irlam Steel eventually emerging with an amazing 8-5 win.

Basement team Chorltonians thirds did well to restrict Abacus Media seconds to a 3-2 win while second bottom Newton Heath did well to post a 4-2 win at Staly Lions.

Another lowly team Moorside Rangers seconds also impressed with a 4-0 win over Stoconians seconds.

Mellor thirds stay on top of division C after a 5-3 win over title rivals Bedians thirds.

Sam Parker was the Mellor shooting star with a hat-trick and Rick Axford bagged a brace to leave Mellor five points clear of Bedians who have two games in hand.

Mellor fourths were also impressive in division D as they cruised to a 6-2 win over AFC Oldham seconds with Kevin Murray (three), James Robinshaw (two) and Tom Reeve with a spectacular 40-yarder providing the firepower.

Table topping Moston Brook thirds also hit six without reply against Stoconians thirds.

Old Ashtonians thirds had the upper hand in their local derby with Staly Lions seconds winning 4-2.

The top two in division E both won to stay clear of the pack with Cheadle Hulme Villa thirds having a close call before winning their local derby at Spurley Hey by the odd goal in three.

Trafford United seconds matched this score-line against Moorside Rangers to stay three points behind Villa.

Alkrington Dynamoes present a big danger to the top two as they are six points off the top but have four games in hand as they won 3-1 at Burnage Metro fourths. A mid-table contest between Chorltonians fifths and Hillgate saw the latter edge it by 2-1.

In division F second-placed Parrs Wood Celtic took full advantage to close the gap on leaders Chorltonians sixths to a point with a game in hand as they despatched Staly Lions thirds 3-0.

No joy for Staly Lions fourths who were walloped 6-0 at high flying Moston Brook fourths.